394 



Thomas Thomsen 



block of wood and much time, and which would therefore be of 

 great value. 



The hollowed seat itself is 50 cm. in length, 34 cm. in present 

 width (was originally 37—40 cm.) and 2 cm. in thickness. In the 

 front it has a projection on either side, about 10 cm. long, about 

 6 cm. wide and 55 cm. thick, into which the fore legs have been inserted; 

 including these the entire length of the front edge is 7Г5 cm. There 

 has no doubt been a similar projection for the reception of the 

 back leg. 



At the front edge, on either side and about 7 cm. from the edge 

 of the seat, is drilled a vertical hole with grooves directed towards 

 the edge. Similar holes are seen in a seat in the Christiania Museum Ч 



Fig. 12. 



In both projections, also, are seen 2 pairs of holes running from 

 the upper side outwards to the lateral edges and connected in pairs 

 by a groove. The reason for these holes will be discussed below. 



The height of the stool was 34 cm.; only one leg now remains; 

 it terminates at the upper end in a conical tap which has been in- 

 serted into the projection of the seat. The other part of the leg is 

 rounded in form, thickest (32 — 33 cm.) at the ends and lessening 

 gradually in diameter towards the middle, where it. is about 25 cm. 

 thick. 1 — Г5 cm. above the bottom edge a groove encircles the leg, 

 and 4 cm. below the seat a hole is drilled transversely through it. 



The groove below has no doubt served for fastening a piece of 

 skin under the leg to prevent its creaking and thereby attracting 

 the attention of the seal; it has probably also served to connect 

 the legs with one another. The holes at the front edge of the seat, 

 in the lateral projections and in the upper part of the leg, were 

 doubtless likewise intended for the insertion of lashings connecting the 



' No. 12398, found by the Sverdrup Expedition in Axel Heibergs Land. 



